Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Hello, I finally purchased the Kawai CA65. I know I said I would definitely go for the CS6 but when i went back to the shop, they had the CA 65 on display and when I compared the action, I much preferred the Grand Feel on the Kawai CA 65. What a lovely piano. I've had it now for a few weeks and it still amazes me. It's an inspiration. The let off feature is really good, the sounds are superb and it is really smooth. Best decision I've made in a long time. Well worth the money. And to think I was so close to purchasing a Yamaha CLP 440. Thank God I found this forum.

In the recent days I have been playing it, I've noticed a breathy "hush" noise when I push down the sustain pedal. It's not a squeaky noise, it's an internal noise because it comes out from the speakers and headphones. It is only noticeable from 75+% volume. I was wondering if this is normal. Is this something that can be adjusted in virtual technician or is my piano just faulty?

It is normal.As far as I know, it is a feature called "damper noise".You can turn it off and adjust its volume in Virtual Technician settings.This simulates the noise it's heard in most grand pianos when you press the pedal.

Regarding the 'hush' sound you can hear when pressing the damper pedal, Pelota is correct in pointing out that this sound is normal, and can be adjusted using the 'Damper Noise' parameter in the 'Virtual Technician' menu (p.81 of the owner's manual).

The same noise (albeit accentuated for demonstration) can be heard at the 2m:29s point in the video below:

In my opinion,the Yamaha CLP 440 does not come close to the Kawai CA 65. So I won't even make that comparison.

The CLP 470 is comparable but I think the CA65 is a clear winner because of the following reasons. I am an amateur so take my opinion this with a pinch of salt.

1) In terms of sound, it is very subjective. Some people like the Yamaha sound, others Roland and others Kawai. Besides, with descent piano softwares out there, you make any piano sound really good.

2) I think this has got to be the best reason I love Kawai. The action is the best I have ever played on a digital piano and nothing comes close. Yamaha's 'Natural Wood' on the CLP 470 and 480 is ok but nothing like the 'Grand Feel' action on the Kawai. The Grand Feel action is just smooth as butter. And it's quieter too, a lot quieter.

3) The CA65 has more voices. It has 60 good voices.

4) The speaker system on the Kawai is much better. Its a 2by 50WThe mid-range registrars on the 470 sound really good but the upper registrars and lower registrars don't sound good. They don't sound authentic.

I had looked at Yamaha 470 for months and I got professional opinions from people on this forum and some of my friends, and all those that had ever played on the Kawai recommended it. It's just a beautiful instrument. If it wasn't for this forum, I'd have had a 470. At the time, I didn't even know Kawai made DPs. I saw someone's post saying they would rather have the 'RM3 Grand' (which precedes the Grand Feel) than the NW on the higher end CLPs.

But like I said earlier on, am an amateur. Both instruments are good, so it will ultimately come down to your preference. You need to play test both before you decide. Hope this helps.